Steam-boiler.



PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

A. W. LA PRANGE. STEAM BOILER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1Q, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H0 MODEL.

\ INVENTOR Qmmfiogmw E ATTORNEY YHE nonms Pm'zns w momumo WASHINGTON, uc.

No. 737,558. 7 PATBNTED AUG. 25, 1903. AJW. LA FRANCE.

STEAM BOILER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1902. N0 MDDEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WITNESSES: ,INVENTOR 7/ M. S. Qwmgogn mv 777 I Y IA/LL ATTORNEY "ma mumsPETERS m4 Pum'oumo. WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES Patented August 25, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ASA W. LA FRANCE, OFELMIRA, NEW YORK.

STEAM-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,558, dated August25, 1903. Application filed November 14. 1902. Serial No. 131,418. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ASA W. LA FRANCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elmira, in the county of Ghemungand State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam -Boilers, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vertical steam-boilers of thecombined water and smoke tube type intended more particularly for thequick and rapid generation of steam as required for steam fire-enginesand similar purposes.

My object is to provide certain improvements in the form, construction,and ar: rangement of the water-tube nests, whereby a more perfectcirculation of the heat and gases of combustion will be attained andwhereby the water as it circulates through the said nests will bepresented in a smaller body to the heating-surfaces.

A further object is to provide for the more perfect separation of thesteam and water above the crown-sheet after passing out from the headsor manifolds of said nests, and a still further object is to provide thewatertubes with a novel displacing-core, so mounted within the tubes asto be free to move in any direction therein in order that the water asit passes through the tubes when the boiler is steaming will be in acontinual state of agitation, thereby preventing any deposit of mud orsediment in the heads or tubes of the nests.

I attain these objects by means of the construction and arrangement ofthe boiler and its parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich--- Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my improved boiler;Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1,looking downward; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3, looking upward;Fig. 4:, a detail showing a vertical section through one of thewater-tubes and the u pperand lower nest-heads; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7,transverse sections on the lines 5 5, 6 6, and 7 7, respectively, inFig. at.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

A represents the outside shell of the boiler, and B the inside shell orfire-box sheet.

0 is the leg of the boiler, in which the wa ter circulates between theouter and inner shells.

D is the fire-box space, and E the crownsheet closing the upper end ofshell B. Between the crown-sheet and the fire-box in what may be termedthe combustion-chamber are located a number of nests of Watertubesconsisting of manifolds or headers F and G, connected together by tubesH. It will be noted that these headers F and G are of a novel zigzagformation and that the nests formed thereby are set in radial positionsin an annular ring around a central compound nest. The water entersthese nests from the leg of the boiler through connections I, which arecoupled to the headers F at the outer ends thereof, and after risingthrough the tubes II it passes from the headers G to the waterspaceabove the crown-sheet by way of the connections J, which pass upwardthrough the crown-sheet from the inward ends of said headers G. Theconnections J are closed at.

the top and provided with lateral outlets in the usual manner to preventthe water and steam from being thrown directly upward as they issue fromthe nests. At the center of the combustion-chamber is an annular nestformed of the headers K and M, united by tubes H, the header K beingcoupled to the leg of, the boiler by connection L and the header M tothe space above the crown-sheet by connection N. Within this annularnest is a small nest coupled to the cross-piece of the header M andcomposed of headers O and Q, connected by water-tubes as before, theheader 0 being connected to the leg of the boiler by connection P. Thelower ends of tubes H are reduced or contracted at h, where they enterthe lower headers F, K, and 0, and the said headers are correspondinglyreduced in cross-section. I attain a twofold object in thus contractingthe tubes and lower headers. By reducing the lower ends of the tubes Iinsure an equal circulation of the water from the headers through allthe tubes, since the area of the tube-openings can be so proportionedthat none of the tubes can take water from the others, and the tubesfarthest from the point of supply will have delivered to them as muchwater as those nearest said point. By contracting the lower headers Ireduce the surface of the metal presented over the fire-box, therebygiving more free and open spaces for the smoke and gases of combustionas they rise through the nests and permitting the heated gases to risein close contact with the water-tubes H. Heretofore the large and bluntbottoms of these lower headers have presented a considerable amount ofmetal obstruction over the fire, thereby hindering the upward flow ofthese gases and tending to throw them away from around the water-tubes.Also the cinders, which are drawn up from the fire by the strong andforced draft incident to this type of boiler, will lodge on theprojecting ledges and in the narrow spaces between the headers as soformed,clogging up the flue-spaces between the nests and seriouslyimpeding the rise of the gases through the nests. This fault is obviatedby my construction of these lower headers. In order to furtherfacilitate the rise of the heat, gases, and smoke, I make the bottom ofthese lower headers of a V shape in cross-section, all of which willappear from an inspection of Fig. 4. With respect tothis reduction ofthe lower headers, I do not confine myself toits use in connection withany particular shape or formation of the headers, as it may be appliedwith equally good results to those forms now in common use.

By my radial arrangement of the headers and nests improved results areattained, inasmuch as the water entering the lower headers at theirouter ends and passing out through the upper headers at their inwardends must pass from the outer'periphery of the combustion-chamber topoints adjacent the center thereof in rising through the nests, thewater thus passing from the points of lowest heat to the points of,greatest heat in all the nests before it issues into the waterspaceabove the crown-sheet through the connections J. By the radial zigzagformation of the nests I am also enabled to provide more free and equalpassages for the smoke and gases between the nests and to arrange thesmoke-lines above the crown-sheet to better advantage than heretobefore.

In order to fill the central space after bringing the inward ends of theradial nests as close to the center as practicable, I provide a compoundnest consisting of the annular nest composed of headers Kand M, unitedby tubes H, fed from the water-leg by the connection I. and coupled tothe crown-sheet by connection N, and the central nest coupled into thehead of said annular-nest, composed of headers O and Q, connected bysimilar tubes and having a separate connection P with the leg of theboiler, thus insuring an ample supply of water for the circulationthrough this central nest, which receives the strongest heat from thecombustion-chamber.

In order to more perfectly separate the steam and water after it issuesfrom the connections J and N above the crown-sheet, I provide abafiie-plate R, which is supported on suitable standards or studs at apoint adjacent to the water-line, the smoke-Flues passing throughcorresponding holes in said plate, and the outer periphery of said platebeing of somewhat smaller diameter than the shell A of the boiler,thereby leaving an annular open space near the said outer shell. As thecirculation through the nests is very rapid in this type of boiler, thesteam rising from above the connections J and N will be in ahighly-saturated condition, and if allowed to rise immediately into thesteam-space at the top of the boiler it will be found almost impossibleto get dry steam into the steam-pipe S. By placing the baffle-plate R atthe point indicated and forcing thereby all the steam and water to takea lateral direction after issuing from the nest connections, so as toflow outwardly toward the shell of the boiler,

there will be given time during its outward circulation, whichcirculation takes place in contact with the heated smoke-Hues, for thesteam and water to become perfectly separated, the steam rising fromaround the outer periphery of the baffle-plate in the directionindicated in Fig. 1 and the waterdescending into the leg of the boiler,where it again circulates through the nests. The steam after passing,around the'baifle-plate is drawn to the center of the steam -space abovethe said plate before it passes into the steampipe S, and in thuspassing'to the center it is again brought in contact withthe smokeflues,and thereby superheated or at least freed from any degree of saturation.Heretofore without the use of such a baffle-plate the smoke flues haveinterfered with the lateral flow of the water from the center of thecrown-sheet to the leg of the boiler, thereby causing the water to bankup at the center of the crown-sheet and resulting in the spurting upwardof the water into the Steamspace. By my arrangement of a broadbaffle-plate covering all of the outlets above and adjacent to thecrown-sheet the thorough separation of the steam and water isaccomplished and primingin the boiler is prevented, since the waterwhich rises above the crown-sheet is forced to flow outwardly to thespace adjacent the outer shell, where it is caught by the strong currentof the water circulating down the leg of the boiler and is drawnthereinto away from the steam-space. By thus forcing the water outwardlyfrom the center of the space immediately above the crown-sheet to theleg of the boiler I furthermore provide a constant and steadycirculation of the water down the leg and through the nests, thusinsuring an ample supply of water to the nests and preventing the rapidcirculation through the nests from drawing the water out of the leg ofthe boiler, as has been frequently the case heretofore in this type ofboiler when running with low water under forced draft. While Ipreferably locate the baffle-plate a short distance above thewater-line, it may be placed at or even below the water-line with goodresults, and I do not, therefore, confine myself to the exact locationas herein shown.

In order to reduce the body of water passing through the water-tubes IIand yet retain a large heating-surface, I provide in each tube a core orwater displacing piece T, which is preferably hollow with closed ends,so as to render it water and steam tight, although it may be made solid.By the use of this core the water circulates through the tubes H in anannular stream and is subject throughout to the direct heat imparted tothe tubes, thereby causing the generation of steam several minutesearlier than where the water is allowed to pass through the tubes in asolid body. These cores or water-displacers T, I preferably make ofaluminium or other metal and of such specific gravity that they will befree to rise and fall with the ebullition of the water while steam isbeing generated. In order to keep them in place, I provide guide-pins ti at the top and bottom, the upper pin not reaching to the top of theheader G when the lower pin is resting on the bottom of header F, asindi cated in Fig. 4, in order that the displacer may rise and fall inthe tube. As the water in passing through the tubes H will be subject tomore or less violent ebullition, these displacers T will be constantlymoving up and down and from side to side within the tubes and willloosen any deposit of sediment that might otherwise adhere to the insidewalls of the headers and tubes, thereby keeping the said headers andtubes free from scale, so that the water will always be in directcontact with the heated metal of the nests. The lower guide-pins 2f,resting as they do on the bottom of headers F, will constantly stir upany mud deposit settling in these lower headers, and I thus obviate atrouble which has heretofore been experienced by reason of these lowerheaders F filling up with mudwhen dirty water must be used.

Having thus described my improvements, whatI claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. In an upright boiler, the combination of a radiated series ofsubstantially zigzagshaped nests of water-tubes located between thecrown-sheet and fire-box, the lower nest heads, or manifolds beingconnected with the leg of the boiler and the upper heads with thewater-space above the crown-sheet.-

2. In an upright boiler, the combination of a radiated series of nestsof water-tubes, comprising substantially zigzag-shaped heads ormanifolds united by tubes, said nests radiating from points adjacent thecenter of the combustion-chamber toward the leg of the boiler and beinglocated between the crownsheet and fire-box, the lower heads havingconnection with the leg of the boiler and the upper heads with thewater-space above the crown-sheet.

3. In an upright boiler, the combination of a radiatedseries of tubularnests located between the crown-sheet and fire-box, the nest heads ormanifolds being of irregular formation with interprojecting offsets sospaced apart as to give substantially uniform flue areas at all pointsbetween the heads, the lower heads having connection with the leg of theboiler, and the upper heads with the water-space above the crown-sheet.

4. In an upright boiler, the combinationof a radiated series of tubularnests extending outwardly from near the center to the leg of the boilerbetween the crown-sheet and firebox, the lower nest heads or manifoldsbeing connected at or near their outer ends with the leg of the boiler,and the upper heads being connected at or near their inner ends with thewater-space above the crown-sheet.

5. In an upright boiler, the combination of a radiated series of tubularnests extending outwardly from around a central nest to the leg of theboiler between the crown-sheet and fire-box, said nests being connectedat their lower ends with the leg of the boiler and at their upper endswith the water-space above the crown-sheet at points adjacent thecentral nest.

6. In an upright boiler, the combination of a radiated series of tubularnests disposed about a central nest between the crown-sheet andfire-box, said nests being connected at their lower ends with the leg ofthe boiler and at their upper ends with the Waterspace above thecrown-sheet at points adjacent the center thereof, and a battle-plateextending across the boiler adjacent the water-line with an annularspace between it and the outer shell of the boiler.

7. The combination, with a water-tube and smoke-flue boiler, of ashallow circulatingchamber formed by a baffie-plate located in thesmoke-flue section above the crown-sheet, the water-tubes of the boilerhaving their outlets through the crown -sheet in direct communicationwith said chamber, and said chamber being in direct communication withthe leg of the boiler and with the steam-space above by way of annularpassages adjacent the outer shell of the boiler.

8. In a boiler, the combination, with the water-tubes, of core pieces ordisplacers having end and side play therein, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

9. In a boiler, the combination, with the vertical watertubes, ofimpervious core pieces or displacers loosely mounted therein and havingguide-pins at each end projecting into the heads or manifolds by whichsaid tubes are coupled together.

10. In a boiler, the combination, with the vertical water-tubes, of corepieces or displacers com prising hollow tubes closed at each end andprovided with guide-pins projecting from the ends, as and for thepurpose set forth.

11. In a boiler, a nest of vertical watertubes having their upper endsof full size entered into an upper head or manifold and their lower endscontracted and entered into a correspondingly-contracted lower head ormanifold, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a boiler, a nest of vertical Watertnbes having their lower endscontracted and entered into a correspondingly-contracted head ormanifold, the bottom of said head being also contracted to a V-shapedcrosssection.

13. In a-boiler, a nest of vertical water tubes, the lower head ormanifold of said nest having its bottom at the outside contracted to asharp V-shaped crosssection, for the purpose set forth.

14. In a boiler, a nest of Water-tubes having their ends contractedwhere they enter the head or manifold which receives the greatest heat,and their opposite ends of full diameter, for the purpose set forth. y

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ASA W. LA FRANCE. Witnesses:

M. L. BECK, M. E. VERBECK.

